BOROUGH LOAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 6, 8 January 1900, Page 2

BOROUGH LOAN.

TO THE EDITOR. fi Sik, —Like many others, I am rather c puzzled at the conspicuous silence which ' the question of the Borough loan is 1 meeting with. Does it mean that the ' proposals commend themselves to the ' majority of the ratepayers, or that with i the exception of a few inherent mal- 1 contents there is no interest taken in ! the natter? Considering the enormous importance of the event it seems almost impossible to conceive an absence of

intelligent concern as to the manner in which the present occasion will be utilised, whether for good or not. There is an opportunity now of showing that the townspeople are alive to their best interests, both present and future. I admit that experience teaches one not to expect a great amount of forethought or foresight amongst the majority of persons, and that there are only a few who take sufficient interest in their surroundings to gather experience from what is going on in various parts of the world as a guide for avoiding proved errors and for' adopting successful principles of ad"s ministration. Far sooner would the

hat t»ne townspeople are mive to iest interests, both present and future. ! admit that experience teaches one ! tot to expect a great amount of forehought or foresight amongst the 1 najority of persons, and that there are i >nly a few who take sufficient interest n their surroundings to gather experience from what is going on in rarious parts of the world as a guide tor avoiding proved errors and for adopting successful principles of administration, Far sooner would the majority blindly follow the lead of the loudest drummer—however ignorant or prejudiced he might be—or accept the specious and illusory arguments (?) of a prejudiced scribe. Look, for instance, at the question of water supply. Perhaps nowhere in the world lias Nature provided such a bountiful supply of excellent water as in Taranaki, | ana, so far as New Plymouth is concerned, the conditions are particularly favourable, 'i'hat a rapidly-growing town like this should have at its threshold a stream of pure water which, if only treated according to the ordinary laws of gravitation, will carry itself by a natural process into storage reservoirs, and this groat blessing be not : taken advantage of, seems incredible. Yet there are those who want to tinker

majority blindly follow the lead of the loudest drummer—however ignorant or prejudiced he might be—or accept the specious and illusory arguments (?) of a prejudiced scribe. Look, for instance, at the question of water supply. Perhaps nowhere in the world lias Nature provided such a bountiful supply of excellent water as in Taranaki, ana, so far as New Plymouth is concerned, the conditions are particularly favourable. That a rapidly-growing town like this should have at itsthres-

up the present antiquated pumping works under the plea that they will serve for a time and that the expenditure will only be small. A penny squirt is inexpensive, but is neither durable nor useful to put out a conflagration. Look what a fight has been going on for many years past by the London municipal authorities to obtain water by gravitation from Wales, and yet vested interests iu water companies have been too strong, but at last there seems to be a hope of success. It is not

with them a question of expense of i works; the sole object is a pure, constant, < reliable, and ample supply, and great 1 will be the rejoicing when this is i secured. Again, observe the magnitude ] of the Boston Waterworks expansion. The works are estimated to cost , $20,000,000, and even in a series of very dry seasons the daily storage will be 105,000,000 gallons of water, and a projected reservoir has a capacity of 63,800,000,000 gallons —the second larI gest in the world—and is distant from

the city 36 miles. This will show what | American enterprise will accomplish in the diiection of securing a pure and adequate supply of water for all purposes. And yet there are those who ■ will cavil at spending a few thousands to place our town in a similar state of i security and health. It is admitted that 1 something must be done, and it is folly not to take advantage of the present : opportunity of doing thoroughly and well that which has to be done. Anyone

with a grain of sense can see that the i first outlay on a gravitation scheme is practically the last, and that the cost of working it is merely nominal. Bear in mind, also, that the expenditure is a valuable and profitable asset for all time, Now, I should like to say a few words as to electric lighting. If this had to be provided by means of steam engines, the project would not be within the range of practical politics. Like most other matters, it is a question of

cost of production and distribution, and therefore in any arguments that may be brought forward for or against the proposal it is necessary to test the data by inquiry as to cost of production. Given a motive power that is free of expense, it stands to reason that electricity can be generated much more cheaply than where p jwer has to be provided. Wo We ample water power running to waste just as (only on a vastly superior scale) it was at Niagara until recently, when many thousands of horse power force were utilised for electrical generation. Even when conveyed one hundred miles from the Falls the electricity can be supplied at 30 per cent, less than if generated by steam power—and this after allowing

for a large loss on the way. Electricity will not for some years do away with gas, but even at the same cost it has many advantages, and there is every reason to believe that it can and would be produced here at a price that will compare favourably with that of gas. Of course it is the large consumers that would feel thu benefit, but the public will certainly reap the advantage in better-lighted thoroughfares—at preI sent these are not creditable to the town. Provision of lighting should be in the hands of the municipal authorities : at present this is not so, and it is quite time the town moved to set this right. Those who are most eager to tliwart'ilie electric lighting scheme will probably he the first to fall down and worship it on its inauguration. Tae question of street improvements is a very wide one. To put every sideload and footway in'o proper order would entail fur greater expense than the population at present justifies, but much ian bo acnom: lished with that portion of the loan proposed to be allocated for the purpose, it' wisely adminisiyrjs}. The close y populated streets must com« first;, and so on in proportion. Better to do apa t tlifiri-jnghly ilian to attempt too much over a large ,ur:i. Tilt details should bo s l'ely leit '•_> tlios.i who It ve beeu elios n by the r.i;ei;!!\ws to repre ent them on the Oou;i, i). A word as to draipnge. It is imp'.a but can scarcely be called impel,• iti.ve. A partial s heme vyoifjd mean a bungle, as sooner or later it would have to be done over again when a general system is carried out. Of ciair.'-'H, if the loan were increased to ■. i'J-v.U'.ili, there would be an oppori.iii i! v >.f draining the to.va. It is a lar.'.'e" question. To drain into the town streams would ke as in •

the dry seasons the centre of the town wculd be uninhabitable. The outfall |is bound to be some distance out of j the town, and may possibly require a pumping station and other expensive adjuncts. To attempt this out of the small loan proposed, even were it at the expense of the other proposals, would be foolish to a degree. Either th« loan must bo increased or the drainage left | out, but whatever is done it is to be hoped that for the credit of the town a proper spirit of up-to-datodness will be shown, and that no petty jealousies or prejudices will be allowed to mar the chance of the much-needed improvements proposed by the Council being 1 carried out. —I am, etc., SI'ES.